Comments on: Farewell to Mao Mao http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:40:24 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Pam Taggart http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-345547 Pam Taggart Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:47:28 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-345547 Hi Ron I just found out about MaoMao I'm so sorry. My Twin sister Loves Pandas we have at least 50 Pandas (not real)in our 2 bedroom Apartment Pat sleeps with ALL of them at night, We hope that one day we come and see the Pandas in China. Tell Maomao's Babies that we are sorry that they lost their Mother I wich we can take care of them in our apartment but we can't, I Think it's Against the law to have a panda as a pet and we need $200 us Dollars for each Panda to stay with us Hi Ron I just found out about MaoMao I’m so sorry.
My Twin sister Loves Pandas we have at least 50 Pandas (not real)in our 2 bedroom Apartment
Pat sleeps with ALL of them at night,
We hope that one day we come and see the Pandas in China.
Tell Maomao’s Babies that we are sorry that they lost their Mother
I wich we can take care of them in our apartment but we can’t,
I Think it’s Against the law to have a panda as a pet and we need $200 us Dollars for each Panda to stay with us

]]> By: pandafan http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-296124 pandafan Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:06:44 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-296124 #129 Megan - You have helped the panda lovers by sharing in our sadness over the loss of Mao Mao. One day, you will be able to help in more ways than you can right now. Keep up your love of animals and continue to learn more about them and speak up for them, especially for those who are endangered like our beloved pandas. #129 Megan – You have helped the panda lovers by sharing in our sadness over the loss of Mao Mao. One day, you will be able to help in more ways than you can right now. Keep up your love of animals and continue to learn more about them and speak up for them, especially for those who are endangered like our beloved pandas.

]]> By: Megan http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-296014 Megan Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:03:45 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-296014 IM SAD BECAUSE OF THIS AND WISH I COULD HELP BUT IM ONLY 11! R.I.P MAO MAO :( IM SAD BECAUSE OF THIS AND WISH I COULD HELP BUT IM ONLY 11! R.I.P MAO MAO :(

]]> By: Margaret http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-287018 Margaret Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:24:38 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-287018 I read the article from the head of Panda's International last night about what happened to Mao Mao's enclosure when the " dam" on the river broke. The sudden surge of water crashed the wall of her enclosure (which was beside the river) and it crushed her underneath. They didn't know where she was until her body started to decay and the odor prompted them to dig the mud and rocks off the top of the fallen wall. She was given a heroes funeral with everyone present very respectful and grieving very deeply. It is a very touching story. Her keeper said she was a very expressive panda with her eyes, as the photo in this blog entry shows very clearly. I think it shows how attentive and inquisitive and attuned to humans she really was. It is sad to think of her dying so harshly, but everyone in Wolong hopes that she died instantly and did not feel or know what hit her. They gently exhumed her body from the mud and debris and buried her in a simple wooden box with two apples a special slice of Panda bread to " send her on her journey." They placed a rock as a headstone. On another subject - Do the SDZ pandas have access to A/C in their indoor bedrooms? I know it gets very hot in SD in the summer, and previously zoo staff have stated that you are blessed that Panda Canyon is cooler than the rest of the zoo. With the misters, and the shade, and the lower elevation it appears that the pandas spend most of their time outdoors, except when it is time for refreshing/cleaning their yards. In Hotlanta they say that their pandas spend most of the day indoors in the A/C and the NZP and Memphis Zoo pandas seem to be spending more time inside in the hot weather too. ZA is now sending Lun Lun's urine samples to NZP encrinology expert weekly. " So far, her progestins concentrations indicate that she is still in the early part of pregnancy/pseudopregnancy." <em>Moderator's note: Yes, the pandas' indoor bedrooms are air conditioned.</em> I read the article from the head of Panda’s International last night about what happened to Mao Mao’s enclosure when the ” dam” on the river broke. The sudden surge of water crashed the wall of her enclosure (which was beside the river) and it crushed her underneath. They didn’t know where she was until her body started to decay and the odor prompted them to dig the mud and rocks off the top of the fallen wall. She was given a heroes funeral with everyone present very respectful and grieving very deeply.
It is a very touching story. Her keeper said she was a very expressive panda with her eyes, as the photo in this blog entry shows very clearly. I think it shows how attentive and inquisitive and attuned to humans she really was. It is sad to think of her dying so harshly, but everyone in Wolong hopes that she died instantly and did not feel or know what hit her. They gently exhumed her body from the mud and debris and buried her in a simple wooden box with two apples a special slice of Panda bread to ” send her on her journey.” They placed a rock as a headstone.

On another subject – Do the SDZ pandas have access to A/C in their indoor bedrooms? I know it gets very hot in SD in the summer, and previously zoo staff have stated that you are blessed that Panda Canyon is cooler than the rest of the zoo. With the misters, and the shade, and the lower elevation it appears that the pandas spend most of their time outdoors, except when it is time for refreshing/cleaning their yards. In Hotlanta they say that their pandas spend most of the day indoors in the A/C and the NZP and Memphis Zoo pandas seem to be spending more time inside in the hot weather too.

ZA is now sending Lun Lun’s urine samples to NZP encrinology expert weekly. ” So far, her progestins concentrations indicate that she is still in the early part of pregnancy/pseudopregnancy.”

Moderator’s note: Yes, the pandas’ indoor bedrooms are air conditioned.

]]> By: Margot http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-286857 Margot Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:09:09 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-286857 Thanks to the Moderator and everyone who has kept us up to date on the situation in Wolong. Special thanks to P Wong for taking the time to translate the Panda Club information. And thanks, Liz S., for the warning about the pictures of Mao Mao. After reading the news accounts of her death, I already had very vivid pictures in my mind and I appreciate not having those reinforced. Rest in peace, Mao Mao, the " hero mother." On another topic, I really enjoy the coverage of Zhen Zhen in the afternoons as she is doing her stretches and lazily rolling around on the tree branches. She looks so relaxed even though she's really " out on a limb." I also wanted to ask which panda is in the photo on the zoo's home page--is it Su Lin? So sweet! <em>Moderator's note: That is indeed our sweet Su!</em> Thanks to the Moderator and everyone who has kept us up to date on the situation in Wolong. Special thanks to P Wong for taking the time to translate the Panda Club information. And thanks, Liz S., for the warning about the pictures of Mao Mao. After reading the news accounts of her death, I already had very vivid pictures in my mind and I appreciate not having those reinforced. Rest in peace, Mao Mao, the ” hero mother.”

On another topic, I really enjoy the coverage of Zhen Zhen in the afternoons as she is doing her stretches and lazily rolling around on the tree branches. She looks so relaxed even though she’s really ” out on a limb.”

I also wanted to ask which panda is in the photo on the zoo’s home page–is it Su Lin? So sweet!

Moderator’s note: That is indeed our sweet Su!

]]> By: barbara http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-286801 barbara Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:15:53 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-286801 Michelle #123 what a beautiful thought, how fitting it would be. A living tribute to a beautiful, special panda. Michelle #123 what a beautiful thought, how fitting it would be. A living tribute to a beautiful, special panda.

]]> By: Chari Mercier http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-286365 Chari Mercier Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:46:28 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-286365 Hey, you all! Hope you had a very nice day today! Writing to let you know that NBC Nightly News did do the news story about the Wolong pandas on Tuesday nite, June 17, that was postponed from last Friday nite. This was pretty much the same news story about the pandas that the Today Show did last Friday morning. Even just watching it a second time on TV, this story still says alot about doing what we need to do to make sure these pandas get thru these rough days, weeks, and months ahead. Also, I got my email newsletter from Pandas International called " Beginning at the End" which was written by Susan Braden who is still in China right now. She describes her journey to Wolong bringing the much needed supplies and donations, and then describes her feelings about the discovery of Mao Mao under the large rubble of her enclosure, being ID'd by one of the keepers on her microchip, the burial and funeral for her. It was a very good article that she wrote. It is also on the PI website with some pictures along with the article. She didn't say when she would come back to the states yet, but she is getting a very good luck at what Wolong Reserve is up against and helping the director determine where they can get Wolong Reserve rebuilt at a safer location. That was the other thing that she described in her newsletter; the mountainous area that Wolong Reserve is located in and how the earthquake has totally changed that compound. A very good description from her along with the pics. Didn't get a chance to get on the pandacam today, but will get on the cam tomorrow. I have to check out little Miss ZZ and hopefully spot her doing her usual toddler antics! Also, no new updates on Lun Lun's and Mei Xiang's luteal phases. We're getting pretty close to when the keepers and vets at the DC and Atlanta zoos will be checking on these 2 girls with regular ultrasounds. I'm staying very positive that both of them will be pregnant and giving birth within the next month or so! Ya Ya in Memphis is still not in estrus--yet! Gonna go and get to bed! I'm writing this at 1:10 am EDT in the morning here in Florida! Love and prayers to all of the keepers and the pandas, Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL Hey, you all! Hope you had a very nice day today! Writing to let you know that NBC Nightly News did do the news story about the Wolong pandas on Tuesday nite, June 17, that was postponed from last Friday nite. This was pretty much the same news story about the pandas that the Today Show did last Friday morning. Even just watching it a second time on TV, this story still says alot about doing what we need to do to make sure these pandas get thru these rough days, weeks, and months ahead. Also, I got my email newsletter from Pandas International called ” Beginning at the End” which was written by Susan Braden who is still in China right now. She describes her journey to Wolong bringing the much needed supplies and donations, and then describes her feelings about the discovery of Mao Mao under the large rubble of her enclosure, being ID’d by one of the keepers on her microchip, the burial and funeral for her. It was a very good article that she wrote. It is also on the PI website with some pictures along with the article. She didn’t say when she would come back to the states yet, but she is getting a very good luck at what Wolong Reserve is up against and helping the director determine where they can get Wolong Reserve rebuilt at a safer location. That was the other thing that she described in her newsletter; the mountainous area that Wolong Reserve is located in and how the earthquake has totally changed that compound. A very good description from her along with the pics.
Didn’t get a chance to get on the pandacam today, but will get on the cam tomorrow. I have to check out little Miss ZZ and hopefully spot her doing her usual toddler antics! Also, no new updates on Lun Lun’s and Mei Xiang’s luteal phases. We’re getting pretty close to when the keepers and vets at the DC and Atlanta zoos will be checking on these 2 girls with regular ultrasounds. I’m staying very positive that both of them will be pregnant and giving birth within the next month or so! Ya Ya in Memphis is still not in estrus–yet!
Gonna go and get to bed! I’m writing this at 1:10 am EDT in the morning here in Florida!
Love and prayers to all of the keepers and the pandas,
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

]]> By: Liz S. http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-285858 Liz S. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:36:55 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-285858 DO NOT OPEN PANDA CLUB PHOTOS UPLOADED 06/11/2008 As a former hospital chaplain who has " seen it all" I advise you that most of you would find those photos devastating. They are photos of the recovery of Mao Moa's remains. Thanks to P. Wong for directing our attention to other photos on that site and for not recommending the ones to which I refer. I just fear that some of you might fish around on that site, as I did, in order to see other shots. Suffice it to say that even I wish I hadn't seen them. Let us remember beautiful Mao Mao in happier days and give thanks for the gift of her life and the lives that she birthed into this world. My condolences to all who grieve for Mao Mao and other loved ones. May you be further gifted with strength, comfort and peace. DO NOT OPEN PANDA CLUB PHOTOS UPLOADED 06/11/2008

As a former hospital chaplain who has ” seen it all” I advise you that most of you would find those photos devastating. They are photos of the recovery of Mao Moa’s remains. Thanks to P. Wong for directing our attention to other photos on that site and for not recommending the ones to which I refer. I just fear that some of you might fish around on that site, as I did, in order to see other shots. Suffice it to say that even I wish I hadn’t seen them. Let us remember beautiful Mao Mao in happier days and give thanks for the gift of her life and the lives that she birthed into this world. My condolences to all who grieve for Mao Mao and other loved ones. May you be further gifted with strength, comfort and peace.

]]> By: Michelle http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-285852 Michelle Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:33:15 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-285852 oh, wouldn't it be wonderful for a panda to give birth and name the cub after Mao Mao!!!! oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful for a panda to give birth and name the cub after Mao Mao!!!!

]]> By: barbara http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2008/06/10/farewell-to-mao-mao/comment-page-3/#comment-285769 barbara Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:53:51 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/farewell-to-mao-mao/#comment-285769 With all the sadness and heartbreak maybe finally some good news, they are starting procedures for birth watch for Lun Lun and if we do have a little one this will be uplifting of sad spirits. Chari, P. Wong, Solshih thank you for all the updates, I haven't been able to check as often as I want. You are truly my lifeline. I can hardly wait for a baby to be born in China, that celebration will probably be bigger than the olympics. With all the sadness and heartbreak maybe finally some good news, they are starting procedures for birth watch for Lun Lun and if we do have a little one this will be uplifting of sad spirits.
Chari, P. Wong, Solshih thank you for all the updates, I haven’t been able to check as often as I want. You are truly my lifeline. I can hardly wait for a baby to be born in China, that celebration will probably be bigger than the olympics.

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